Shock absorber equipment for knitting machines



Aug. 16, 1938. M. RICHTER 2,127,449

SHOCK A BSORBER EQUIPMENT FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 24, 1957 G Sheets-Sheet 2 Mi @wf/7 l ,Y A A il Aug. 16, 1938. M RICHTER 2,127,449A

SHOCK ABsbRBER EQUIPMENT FOR KNTTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 24, 1937 e sheets-sheet 5 A TTORNEY.

Aug. 16, 1938.

M. RICHTERv SHOCK ABSORBER EQUIPMENT FOR KNITTING MACHINES 'Filed Feb. 24, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 `.1xug.`16,1938. RICHTER 'l 2,127,449

SHOCK ABSORBER EQUIPMENT FOR KNITTING MACHINES Y Filed Feb. 24, 1957' GA-Sheets-Sheet 5 fifi FLE- Q IN VEN TOR:

/ A TTORNEY.

Aug. 1,6, 1938. MQ RICHTER 2,127,449

SHOCK ABsoRBER EQUIPMENT FOR KNITTING MACHINES I Filed Feb. 24, 1957' e sheets-sheet e IN V ENTOR.'

ma: @Mk/Zier ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 16, 1938 SHOCK ABSORBER EQUIPMENT FOR KNIT- TING MACHINES Max Richter, West Reading, Pa., assignor to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., a corporation `of Pennsylvania,

Application February 24, 1937, Serial No. 127,364

15 Claims.

This invention relates to novel mechanism for selectively controlling the operation of shockabsorbing means for knitting machines and particularly to means associated with full-fashioned stocking and other straight knitting machines to cause a mechanism for absorbing or reducing the shock impact of a yarn carrier bar with its end stops to be rendered active or inactive according tc a pattern.

It has heretofore been suggested to provide means for reducing or absorbing the shocks of impact between the yarn-carrier barsand the end stops of a full-fashioned knitting machine. Such shocks have adverse eifects in the operation of the machine by causing vibrations tending to Wear and loosen parts, causing unnecessary noise and sometimes having deleterious effectson the fabric.

For `reducing the shocks, a suggested mechanism comprises a rod which is disposed parallel to the actuator or friction rod means and moves in the same direction as the friction rod at the same time, but at a speed reduced relative to the main carrier speed. An element on a friction box operates between two elements on the shock reducing rod suchA that, as the friction rod approaches .the ends of its strokes, the element on thebox overtakes, and is intercepted by, one of the elements on the reduced-speed rod, whereby the speed of the `friction box is reduced before the `carrier barhits its end stops.

In the operation of a full-fashioned stocking machine, where it is desired to have a carrier that has laid full-width yarns inthe leg area of a blank also lay partial courses in a heel tab, it has been the practice to stop the machine, fo-r manually rendering inoperative the shock reducer means associated with the friction box of such carrier.

" In running idle courses, the friction boxes are stopped, whilev remaining portions of the machine go through the motions of knitting without producing fabric. Thus, if the above-mentioned elements on the friction boxes for interception by the elements on Ythe shock-reducing rod are allowed to remain in active position While run.- ning an idle course, collision between the elements :on the boxes and on the speed-reducing rod will result in damage to these elements.

An object of the invention is to avoid the above-mentioned disadvantages and to ensure proper operation of the machine by having the shock-reducer elements in active relation dur- -ingthe times of knitting full-width courses and in inactive relation during the times of knitting heel tab areas and of running idle courses. The results are attained in response to operation of the machine in accordance with the change in pattern betweentheleg and the heel tabs whereby manual manipulation vand attendant disadvantages thereof, such as imperfect operation and having to stop the machine, are avoided.

Another object of the invention is to effect the above-mentioned pattern control of the shock absorbing or reducing means in a simple, effective and economical manner, .whereby the speed of production is increased, the likelihood of disorders of the machine and defects in the knitted blank is substantially reduced, the hazards of manual control are eliminated and other advantages are attained.

With the above and other objects in view, which will become apparent from the following description of the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention comprises the novel elements, mechanisms, features of construction and combination of parts in cooperative relation, as hereinafter particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view'on a reduced scale of a portion of a full-fashioned knitting machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view., on a slightly enlarged scale, of the machine shown in Fig. 1, taken substantially along the line 2 2;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, parts being omitted for clearness;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail View, partially in elevation and partially in section, of a shockabsorber device located at the upper left center of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view taken substantially along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Figs. 6 and .7 are views, similar to the bottom portion of Fig. 4, showing `the parts thereof in different operative positions;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view of portions of the machine as viewed at the upper lefthand portion of Fig. 3, showing the parts thereof Vin diiferent operative positions;

Fig. 9 is a view taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig, 10 is an enlarged sectional detail view, taken substantially along the line Ill-IU of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 11 is a diagram of a full-fashioned stocking leg blank, together with a diagram showing the development of a pattern chain along a straight line in side elevation from its normal loop shape indicating the positions along the blank at which the shock-reducing means is ren dered effective and ineffective.

The gures disclose various parts of a Reading full-fashioned stocking-knitting machine embodying the invention in which for clearness only the parts necessary to an understanding of the invention are illustrated. The other parts and the operation thereof are wellknown in the art, as shownand described in the Readingf Full Fashioned Knitting Machine Catalogues, copyright 1920, 1929 and 1935 and published by the Textile Machine Works, Reading, Pennsyl- Vania, and in a booklet entitled Knitting Machine Lectures, published in 1935 by the Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. Y

In a machine of the type illustrated, end and center frames I0, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, are rigidly held in parallel spaced relation by members including a front beam I2, a back beam I3 and a center bed |4, which together constitute a base frame on which the operating parts are supported. A couliering mechanism II, Fig. l, of a well known type, comprises a draw arm or pitman I5 on which is adjustably mounted a pair of rollers |6,'only one of which is shown, for coaction with a coulier cam I1 to oscillate with a small rocker arm, not shown, and a large rocker arm I9. The couliering mechanism operates to translate the rotative movement of a cam shaft 2| into the reciprocative movement of the yarn-feeding mechanism.

The rocker arms are pivotally connected to mountings by studs, such as the mounting 24 and the stud 26 associated with the long arm I9. The mountings are secured to the top and under sides, respectively, of the back beam I3.

Reciprocation of the draw bar I5 oscillates the large rocker arm |9 about its pivot stud 26 andv reciprocates a cross-head 21, through a connector element or link 28, the ends of which are pivcted to the rocker arm I9 and to the cross-head 21, respectively, by studs 29 and 3|). Operation of the cross-head 21 and of a friction rod 32 secured thereto, operates a friction box 34 'on the rod 32.

The mechanism above set forth, which is well known in the art and is embodied in a fullfashioned machine of the type shown in the Reading catalogue, is included herein for an understanding of the invention, which cooperates with this mechanism to reduce the speed of the carriers as they approach the end stops. This feature operates to substantially reduce the shock of impact between the carrier bar and its end stops,

A carrier-bar speed-reducing for auxiliary rod 43 is longitudinally slidably supported by bearings in brackets 4| carried by a center frame I6 and is reciprocated at a reduced rate of speed relative to the actuator or friction rod 32 by a device 44 comprising a base support including a two-part bracket, including upper and lower members 45 and 46, respectively. The member 45 supports an auxiliary shock absorber 4,2, Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7, includingy a plunger 48, which is held by a compression spring 49 in yielding engagement with a thickened portion of the rod 43 in a notchl 58. rIhe spring 49 impinges against a member 50 adjustably bridged between bolts 52 by nuts 53.

The device 44. is slidably mounted on a back narrowing shaft 54 and is reciprocated by the large rocker arm I9 through a link 55. The ends of the link 55 are pivotally mounted on studs 56 and 51 carried by the arm I9 and the bracket 46, respectively.y The stud 56 is preferably normally disposed half way between the studs 26 and 29 whereby to move at half the rate of speed at which the stud 29 oscillates. Consequently, the device 44 and the rod 43 yieldingly secured thereto through the plunger 48 and the notch 58 in the positions of the parts of Figs. 4 and 5, are reciprocated at half the rate of speed at which the cross-head 21 andthe friction rod 32 operate. 'I'his rate may be adjustably varied by changing the positions of the studs 56 and 51 in vertical slots in the rocker arm I9 and the bracket member 46, respectively.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, yarn carriers 62 mounted on reciprocable carrier bars I to 8, respectively, are operated by the friction boxes of the machine to feed the yarns to needles 63. The

needles are clamped to a needle bar 64, which is actuated by needle and presser levers 65 and 66 operated by cams on the cam shaft 2 I. Sinkers 12 and `dividers 13 cooperate with the needles 63 to form loops.

The forward movement of the sinkers 12 v1s effected by a reciprocable cock box assembly 15 through jacks 14. The forward movement of the dividers 13 and the retraction movement of the sinkers 12 and the dividers 13 are effected by cams on the cam shaft 2|. This movement is transmitted to a catch bar 11 through a linkage including a cam follower 18, a cam lever 19, a horizontal catch bar shifter 82 and a vertical shifter arm 83.

An auxiliary pattern unit includes a control shaft 86, Figs. 2, 3, 8 and 9, supported by bearing members 81 attached to a bar 98, which is securedv to the center frames I9. The shaft 86 is intermittently racked by a cam 89 when a lever 92, pivotally mounted on the front beam I2 by a pin 93, is operated by actuation of a rod 94. This movement of the rod 94 is effected by a button mounted on an auxiliary chain which is attached to, and operated by, the main chain-motion mechanism.

Removal of the lever 92 from beneath the horizontal arm of a bell crank 98 permits a follower 99 to move in accordance with the contour of the cam 89, whereupon rotation of the shaft 86 is caused by the intermittent movement of a ratchet wheel |02 secured thereto. The ratchet wheel |92 is actuated by a pawl |03 that is pivotally mounted on a member |04, which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 86 land connected by a link |65 to the upper end of the bell crank 98.

A spring |66 is secured at one end to the back beam I3 by a bracket |01 and has its opposite end connected to a hook portion of the link |85, thereby'providing means for holding the cam follower 99 in yielding engagement with the cam 89 when the lever 92 disengages the lever 98. A detent |69, pivotally mounted on a pin ||2, is held in yielding engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel |62 by a spring ||4 to prevent reverse movement of the control shaft as viewed in Fig. 2.

An auxiliary pattern-unit control chain ||5 is mounted at one end on a sprocket wheel I6 that is secured to the shaft 86 and at the other end by an idler sprocket wheel that is supported by 'a bracket I I8, Fig. 1, on the bar 88 at the rear of the machine. A similar chain |22 is also carried by sprocket wheels on the shaft 86 and the bar 88 for operating a selective three-carrier mechanism |23 of the friction box 34.

A roller follower |25 for cooperation with the chain I 5 is rotatably mounted on` a lever |26 that has a pivotal mounting |21 on a bracket |28 secured tothe bar 88. A spring |29 biases the lever |26 clockwise, as viewed in Figs. 2, 3 and 8, to cause the roller |25 to follow the contour of the chain II5, which, as shown, has high links I|5a and low links I|5b.

A pattern responsive means or member |32, pivoted to the upper end of the bracket |28, by a pin |33, has a slot |34 and two arms |35 and |36, to which are detachably secured jaw members |31 and |38, respectively. These jaws ex- 75 tend parallel to the friction rod 32 `and. have divergingly flared ends |42 and |43, respectively, Fig. 9. A pin |44 is adjustably secured to the member |32 in the slot |34 for cooperation with a bifurcate upper end |45 of the lever |26, so that, when the lever |26 is turned about its pivot 21, the member l32 is oppositely pivoted about its pivot E36.

A lever arm or member |46 pivotally mounted on the friction box 34 by a pin |41 has its outer or free end |48, Fig. 9, tapered from the center of the lever oppositely in the direction of the friction rod so that, at a position of a carrier corresponding to the end of a full-course stroke as in the leg of a stocking, the end |48 will lie between the jaws |51 and |36. As more clearly seen in Fig. 9, entrance of the lever to position between the jaws |31 and |36 at the left hand end of the stroke of the friction box on which the lever is mounted, is facilitated by the flared ends |42 and |46 of the jaws and by the taper of the end 48 of the lever |46. This feature ensures proper positioning of the lever between the jaws at the end of the stroke in case the lever is manually or otherwise moved from such position while `the machine is idle and the lever' |46 is spaced from the jaws at an intermediate position of its stroke.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the lever |46 is in a lower position projecting laterally from the friction box 64 wherein, near each end of its stroke, it is intercepted by one of a pair of elements |55 between which it is located and which are fixed to the shock rod 43. Since this rod travels in the same direction as the friction box, but at half the speed of the box, when the lever |46 engages the element |55 intercepting its path in this direction, the speed of the box is reduced from the time of interception of the lever by the element until the carrier bar being moved by the box is engaged by its end stop. This action renders engagement of the carrier bar with the stop free from undesirable shock.

At each interception of the lever |46 by one of the elements |55, the auxiliary shock absorber device 42 allows momentary play between the rod 43 and its drive by slight movement of the plunger 48 out of the notch 58, as indicated in Fig. 6, thus compressing the spring 46 and absorbing some of the forces of the impact. In case the rod 43 is stopped or opposed by an abnormal force greater than necessary to move the plunger 48 out of the notch 56 at an intermediate position of the friction-rod stroke, the plunger 48 will move entirely out ofthe notch, as indicated in Fig. 7, thus preventing damage to parts.

Lateral bend of the lever |46 while it is engaging one of the elements |55, is prevented by having the lever reinforced along its sides by portions 52 of the friction box, which form a groove |54'in which the lever is disposed, Fig. 10. As also shown in this iigure, the lever |46 is provided with a side notch |51 for cooperation with a detent device on the friction box comprising a ball |65, a spring 465, and an adjustable screw and nut device |12 for holding the ball and the spring. This device is for holding the lever |46 in its upper position, indicated in Fig. 8, in which the lever |46 clears or is out of the path of the adjacent element |55 when a carrier rod connected to the box is operating through a short stroke, `asin the heel tab of a stocking. For this operation, the lever |46 is lifted by the jaws `Hifi- |66 from its position of Fig.' 2 toits position .of Fig. 8.

Lifting of the .jaws |31-'|3 is accomplished according to `the pattern of the stocking blank being knitted when the low links |b of the chain H5 are moved to position opposite the follower |25 and the chain is moved by racking of the ratchet wheel |62 by the pawl |03 to turn the shaft 86. When the rod 94 is moved longitudinally by a button of the main chain motion mechanism, the lever 92 is moved from beneath the bell crank 96 so that the roller 99 may follow the contour of the cam 89, which action causes intermittent reciprocation of the link |65 and corresponding racking of the ratchet wheel |62.

In the particular example illustrated, the friction box 34 is of a special type whereby it may at the end of each stroke be detached from one of a set of three carrier bars and attached to another bar of the set to operate these bars for laying three separate yarns of like gauge, color and kind .in repeated succession to avoid rings or shadows. 'I'he friction box may also be attached to a carrier bar, other than` the three bars operated in repeated succession, such as the bar for laying yarn to the welt.

In this instance,` the carriers attached to the bars 4. 2 and are selected to lay the courses of the ringless area between courses and |1|, as indicated in Fig. 11. The blank is knitted from the rst course |14 in the welt W to the selected course |16 below the welt line |15 from a yarn laid by the carrier of the bar 3 connected to the friction box 34. at which position the carrier of the bar 3 is disconnected from the box 34 and is laid out of operation, and the three carriers for repeated succession placed in operation. At the tops |16 of the upper heel areas, the three thread carriers are augmented, in the left upper heel area. as viewed in Fig. l1, by the carrier of carrier bar 6 and, in .the right upper heel area by the carrier of the bar 1. This action continues to within two or three courses of the course |1|. where the carrier bars 2 and are disconnected from the friction box 34 and the carrier bar 4 is allowed to remain attached to the box. The bar l is thrown out of operation entirely, but thebar 2 is taken Yun by another friction box and operated to lay yarn inthe left heel tab. The box 34, although being constructed specially to translate the motion of the three thread carrier bars 4, 2 `and I, is thus operable to lay the single yarn by the carrier bar 4 in the left heel tab, while the carrier bar 8 attached to a separate friction box is also laying yarn in the left heel tab, Fig. 11. In the right heel tab, the carrier bar 2, previously disconnected from the three carrier friction box $44. is operated by a separate friction box, along with the 'carrier bar 1, which is operated by a corresponding separate box.

As indicated in Fig. 11. the machine has idle movement for a distance from a line |11, at the top of the figure representing the position of the last course of the heel tabs of a previously knitted blank, to the first course |14 of the next subsequent blank illustrated. at which time the follower |25 is still on one of a set of the low links H55. At the course |14, the high links ||5a move to position opposite the follower |25 which is thereby actuated to move the lever |46 to its lower position, in which it is intercepted by the elements i55-l56 on the half-speed shock absorber rod 43. The lever |46 remains in its lowered position from the course |14 to the course |16 where the low links ||5bi move to position opposite the follower |25, therebymoving the lever |46 out of the path of the elements until the course |74 is started in the next subsequent blank.

The action whereby the friction box 34 changes from its operation in carrying the carrier bar 3 to its three-carrier operation carrying the bars 4, 2 and I, then again returns to its single carrier operation, carrying the bar 4, and finally changes back again to the carrier bar 3, is effected in a manner not specifically generic to this invention, but generally effected by a lever |18, Fig. 1, which is controlled by the chain |22, having high, intermediate and low links operable by the auxiliary control shaft 86 in a manner similar to that above-described with respect to the chain H5. The three-carrier attachment |23 on the friction box 34 has pointed elements |8| and |82 projecting oppositely along the friction rod for cooperation, respectively, with a socket member 83 on the movable arm |18 and a stationary socket member |84. Normally, during the knitting of the three-thread area, the socket member |83 is also stationary in line with the elements |8| and |82 and with the stationary socket |84. At the ends of the friction box strokes, the pointed elements I8! and |82 enter the socket members |83 and |84 merely for a precautionary position maintaining effect on parts of the friction box which might otherwise become displaced from the action of the machine. Bodily movement of the socket |83 laterally of the friction rod by the chain |22 when the element |8| is in the socket, disrupts the three-carrier operation and institutes the single carrier operation of the friction box 34, as above mentioned.

The carrier bar 4 in the above-described operation, thus impacts one of its end stops at the corresponding end of every stroke throughout the production of the blank from the course |79 to the course |71, as shown at the bottom of Fig. 1l. The bar 4 does this at the ends of full strokes from the course |10 to the course Ill and at the ends of partial strokes from the course Ill to the bottom course |11. With the arm |46 in its lower position during the full strokes to be intercepted by the elements |55 and in its upper position to avoid interception by these elements and this change being controlled by the pattern mechanism. in accordance with the shape of the stocking blank, means is thus provided, responsive to' operation of the machine, for selectively reducing or avoiding the reduction of the shock of impact of the carrier bar 4 at one end of its stroke in accordance with such pattern or shape and provision is made for varying the shock reducing effect by varying the relation of the speed of the rod 43 to that of the friction rod 32, and by adjusting the spring 49.

Although a particular form of the invention has been shown and described, changes may be effected therein Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a straight knitting machine, a carrier bar, a friction rod, a friction box, an auxiliary rod parallel to the carrier bar and the friction rod, elements spaced along the auxiliary rod carried thereby, a member on the friction box, means for longitudinally reciprocating the friction rod at any of a selection of speeds and the auxiliary rod simultaneously in the same directions at a proportionately lesser speed, pattern responsive means for moving said member relative to the friction box at a location between said elements selectively between a position in the path of movement of said elements and a position out ,of said path whereby when said member is in said first position it is adapted to engage one of said elements for retardation thereby to reduce the speed of the friction box for part of its stroke to the speed of said auxiliary rod and when said member is in said second position it will avoid engaging said elements and the speed of the friction box will be maintained throughout its stroke, and pattern means controlling said l pattern responsive means to move said member to said first position at a predetermined high speed of the friction rod and to said second position at a predetermined low speed of the friction rod.

2, In a straight knitting machine, a carrier bar, a friction rod, a friction box, an auxiliary rod parallel to the carrier bar and the friction rod, elements spaced along the auxiliary rod carried thereby, a member on the friction box, means for longitudinally reciprocating the friction rod at any of a selection of speeds and the auxiliary rod simultaneously in the same directions at a proportionately lesser speed, means yieldably connecting said auxiliary rod to said rod reciprocating means, pattern responsive means for moving said member relative to the friction box at a location between said elements selectively between a position in the path of movement of said elements and a position out of said path whereby when said member is in said first position it is adapted to engage one of said elements for retardation thereby to reduce the speed of the friction box for part of its stroke to the speed of said auxiliary rod and when said member is in said second position it will avoid engaging said elements and the speed of the friction box will be maintained throughout its stroke, and pattern means controlling said pattern responsive means to move said member to said first position at a predetermined high speed of the friction rod and to said second position at a predetermined low speed of the friction rod.

3. In a straight knitting machine, a carrier bar, a friction rod, a friction box, an auxilliary rod parallel to the carrier bar and the friction rod, elements spaced along the auxiliary rod carried thereby, a member on the friction box, means for longitudinally reciprocating the friction rod at any of a selection of speeds and the auxiliary rod simultaneously in the same directions at a proportionately lesser speed, means yieldably connecting said auxiliary rod to said rod reciprocating means, means for adjusting the degree of yieldability of said connecting means, pattern responsive means for moving said member relative to the friction box at a location between said elements selectively between a position in the path of movement of said elements and a position out of said path whereby when said member is in said first position it is adapted to engage one of said elements for retardation thereby to reduce the speed of the friction box for part of its stroke to the speed of said auxiliary rod and when said member is in said second position it will avoid engaging said elements and the speed of the friction box will be maintained throughout its stroke, and pattern means controlling said pattern responsive means to move said member to said first position at a predetermined high speed of the friction rod and to said second position at a predetermined low speed of the friction rod.

4. In a straight knitting machine, a carrier bar, a friction rod, a friction box, an auxiliary rod Cil parallel to the carrier bar and the friction rod, elements spaced along the auxiliary rod carried thereby, a member on the friction box, means for longitudinally reciprocating the friction rod at any of a selection of speeds and the auxiliary rod simultaneously in the same directions at a proportionately lesser speed, means yieldably connecting said auxiliary rod to said rod reciprocating means, pattern responsive means for moving said member relative to the friction box at a location between said elements selectively between a position in the path of movement of said elements and a position out of said path whereby when said member is in said first position it is adapted to engage one of said elements for retardation thereby to reduce the speedY of the friction box for part of its stroke to the speed of said auxiliary rod and when said member is in said second position it will avoid engaging said elements and the speed of the friction box will be maintained throughout its stroke, said yieldable connecting means being adapted to yield at each engagement of said member with one of said elements and to return to initial connecting position after such engagement, and pattern means controlling said pattern responsive means to move said member to said rst position at a predetermined high speed of the friction rod and to said second position at a predetermined low speed of the friction rod.

5. In a straight knitting machine, a carrier bar, a friction rod, a friction box, an auxiliary rod parallel to the carrier bar and the friction rod, elements spaced along the auxiliary rod carried thereby, a member on the friction box, means forlongitudinally reciprocating the friction rod at any of a selection of speeds and the auxiliary rod simultaneously in the same directions at a proportionately lesser speed, pattern responsive means for moving said member relative to the friction box at a location between said elements.

selectively between a position in the path of movement of said elements and a position out of said path whereby when said member is in said rst position it is adapted to engageV one of said elements for retardation thereby to reduce the speed of the friction box for part of its stroke to the speed of said auxiliary rod and when said member is in said second position it will avoid engaging said elements and the speed of the friction box will be maintained throughout its stroke, said pattern responsive means being adapted for operative connection to said member only at a given position of the friction box, and pattern means controlling said pattern responsive means to move said `member to said first position at a predetermined high speed of the friction rod4 and to said second position at a predetermined low speed of the friction rod.

6. In a straight knitting machine, a carrier bar,

a friction rod, a friction box, an auxiliary rod parallel to the carrier bar and the friction rod, elements spaced along the auxiliary rod carried thereby, means for longitudinally reciprocating the friction rod at any of a selection of speeds and the auxiliary rod simultaneously in the same directions at a proportionately lesser speed, a lever pivotally mounted on the friction box about an axis parallel to said rods and projecting laterally from the box, pattern responsive means for pivotally moving said lever at a location between said elements selectively between a position in the path of movement of said elements and a position out of said path whereby when said lever is in said first` position it is adapted to engage one of said elements for retardation thereby to reduce the speed of the friction box for part of its stroke to the speed of said auxiliary rod and when said lever is in said second position it will avoid engaging said elements and the speed of the friction box will be maintained throughout its stroke, means for bracing said lever between its pivot and free ends against the side thrust of said elements, and pattern means controlling said pattern responsive means to move said lever to said first position at a predetermined high speed of the friction rod and to said second position at a predetermined low speed of the friction rod.

'7. In a straight knitting machine, a carrier bar, a friction rod, a friction box, an auxiliary rod parallel to the carrier bar and the friction rod, elements spaced along the auxiliary rod carried thereby, means for longitudinally reciprocating the friction rod at any of a selection of speeds and the auxiliary rod simultaneously in the same directions at a proportionately lesser speed, a lever pivotally mounted on the friction box about an axis parallel to said rods and projecting laterally from the box, patternv responsive means for pivotally moving said lever at a location between said elements selectively between a position in the path of movement of said elements and a position out of said path whereby when said lever is in said first position it is adapted to engage one of said elements for retardation thereby to reduce the speed of the friction box for part of its stroke to the speed of said auxiliary rod and when said lever is in said second position it will avoid engaging said elements and the speed of the friction box will be maintained throughout its stroke, means for holding the lever in said second position independently of said pattern responsive means, and pattern means controlling said pattern responsive means to move said lever to said first position at a predetermined high speed of the friction rod and to saidsecond position at a predetermined low speed of the friction rod.

8. In a straight knitting machine, a carrier bar, a friction rod, a friction box, an auxiliary rod parallel to the carrier bar and the friction rod, elements spaced along the auxiliary rod carried thereby, a member on the friction box, means for longitudinally reciprocating the friction rod at any of a selection of speeds' and the auxiliary rod simultaneously in the same directions at a proportionately lesser speed, means for regulating the speed of the auxiliary rod relative to the speed of the friction rod, pattern responsive means for moving said member relative to the friction box at a location between said elements selectively between a position in the path of movement of said elements and a position out of said path whereby when said member is in said first position it is adapted to engage one of said elements for retardation thereby to reduce the speed ofthe friction box for part of its stroke to the speed of said auxiliary rod and when said member is in said second position it will avoid engaging said elements and the speed of the friction box will be maintained throughout its stroke, and pattern means controlling said pattern responsive means to move said member to said first position at a predetermined high speed of the friction rod and to said second position at a predetermined low speed of the friction rod.

9. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a carrier bar, a friction box, an auxiliary rod parallel to the carrier bar and the friction rod, elements spaced along, and secured to, the auxiliary rod, a lever pivoted to the friction box, means for actuating the friction rod at a given speed and the auxiliary rod at a predetermined lesser speed, and means responsive to operation of the machine for moving said lever about its pivot selectively between a position intermediate, and in the path of movement of, said elements and a position aside said path including a main pattern unit, and an auxiliary pattern-control unit comprising a shaft, a sprocket wheel on the shaft, a pattern chain on the sprocket wheel, a pivotally mounted member for moving said friction-box lever, and a follower for said chain cooperating with said pivotal member.

10. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a carrier bar, a friction box, an auxiliary rod parallel to the carrier bar and the friction rod, elements spaced along, and secured to, the auxiliary rod, a lever pivoted to the friction box, means for actuating the friction rod at a given speed and the auxiliary rod at a predetermined lesser speed, and means responsive to operation of the machine for moving said lever about its pivot selectively between a position intermediate, and in the path of movement of, said elements and a position aside said path including a main pattern unit, and an auxiliary pattern-control unit comprising a shaft, a sprocket Wheel on the shaft, a patternchain on the sprocket wheel, a pivotally mounted member for moving said friction-box lever, a second pivotally mounted lever for actuating said pivotally mounted member, and a follower for said chain carried by said second lever.

11. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a carrier bar, a friction box, an auxiliary rod parallel to the carrier bar and the friction rod, elements spaced along, and secured to, the auxiliary rod, a lever pivoted to the friction box, means for actuating the friction rod at a given speed and the auxiliary rod at a predetermined lesser speed, and means responsive to operation of the machine for moving said lever about its pivot selectively between a position intermediate, and in the path of movement of, said elements and a position aside said path including a main pattern unit, and an auxiliary pattern-control unit comprising a shaft, a sprocket wheel on the shaft, a pattern chain on the sprocket wheel, a pivotally mounted meniber for moving said friction-box lever, said member embodying a pair of jaws opening in the direction of the friction rod for receiving said lever between the jaws, a second pivotally mounted lever for actuating said pivotal member, and a follower for said chain carried by said second lever.

12. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a carrier bar, a friction box, an auxiliary rod parallel to the carrier and friction rods, elements spaced along, and secured to, the auxiliary rod, a lever pivoted to the friction box, means for actuating the friction rod at a given speed and the auxiliary rod at a predetermined lesser speed, and means responsive to operation of the machine for moving said lever about its pivot selectively between a position intermediate, and in the path of movement of, said elements and a position aside said path including a main pattern unit, and an auxiliary pattern-control unit comprising a shaft, a sprocket wheel on the shaft, a pattern chain on the sprocket wheel, a pivotally mounted member for moving said friction-box lever, a pin carried by said pivotally-mounted member, a second pivotally mounted lever having a bifurcated end embracing said pin for actuating said pivotal member, and a follower for said chain carried by said second lever.

13. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a carrier bar, a friction box, an auxiliary rod parallel to the carrier bar and the friction rod, elements spaced along, and secured to, the auxiliary rod, a lever pivoted to the friction box, means for I actuating the friction rod at a given Speed and the auxiliary rod at a predetermined lesser speed, and means responsive to operation of the machine for moving said lever about its pivot selectively between a position intermediate, and in the path of movement of, said elements and a position aside said path including a main pattern unit, and an auxiliary pattern-control unit comprising a shaft, a sprocket wheel on the shaft, a pattern chain on the sprocket wheel, a pivotally mounted member for moving said friction-box lever, a pin carried by said pivotally-mounted member and adapted for adjustment to any one of different positions thereon, a second pivotally mounted lever having a bifurcate end embracing said pin for actuating said pivotal member, and a follower for said chain carried by said second lever.

14. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a carrier bar, a friction box, an auxiliary rod parallel to the carrier bar and the friction rod, elements spaced along, and secured to, the auxiliary rod, a lever pivoted to the friction box, means for actuating the friction rod at a given speed and the auxiliary rod at a predetermined lesser speed, and means responsive to operation of the machine for moving said lever about its pivot selectively between a position intermediate, and in the path of movement of, said elements and a position aside said path including a main pattern unit, and an auxiliary pattern-control unit comprising a shaft, a sprocket wheel on the shaft, a pattern chain on the sprocket Wheel, a pivotally mounted member for moving said friction-box lever, a follower for said chain for cooperation with said pivotal member, and means operative upon removal of the chain from the sprocket wheel for limiting movement of the follower toward the wheel.

15. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a carrier bar, a friction box, an auxiliary rod parallel to the carrier bar and the friction rod, elements spaced along, and secured to, the auxiliary rod, a lever pivoted to the friction box, means for actuating the friction rod at a given speed and the auxiliary rod at a predetermined lesser speed, and means responsive to operation of the machine for moving said lever about its pivot selectively between a position intermediate, and in the path of movement of, said elements and a position aside said path including a main pattern unit, and an auxiliary pattern-control unit comprising a shaft, a sprocket wheel on the shaft, a pattern chain on the sprocket wheel, a pivotally mounted member for moving said friction-box lever, said member embodying a pair of jaws detachably secured thereto for receiving said lever between the jaws, a second pivotally-mounted lever for actuating said pivotal member, and a follower for the chain carried by the second lever.

MAX RICHTER. 

